Crosstalk: January 24, 2020

The 2nd Amendment of the United States Constitution says, ‘A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.’

Since our 2nd Amendment grants the right to keep and bear arms, is it ever right for a Christian to shoot another individual?  What about those that say we just need to ‘love one another?’ In all of this, aren’t we just supposed to trust God?  How can one claim to be pro-life and pro-gun at the same time? Isn’t that a contradiction of terms? Should a Christian even own a gun?  Does the Bible address this issue?

To look at this controversial topic, Crosstalk welcomed Pastor David Brown of the First Baptist Church in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.  Pastor Brown has a Masters in Theology and PhD in History, specializing in the history of the English Bible. Pastor Brown has recently marked 50 years in ministry with 40 of those at his current church.

Pastor Brown does not feel gun control is the answer to gun violence.  He communicated that people control is the answer because you can make all the laws to control guns that you want, but the problem is that criminals don’t follow the law.  On the other hand, those citizens who do abide by the law have both a biblical right, along with a Second Amendment right, to self-defense.

He noted FBI crime statistics that indicate more people are killed with knives and hammers than they are with guns.  He also reminded listeners of a well known biblical example of what happened in life before guns. Cain killed his brother, so outlawing guns isn’t the answer.

This broadcast went on to biblically tackle other positions and circumstances that relate to this issue such as pacifism, self-defense vs. vengeance, the biblical meaning of the word translated ‘kill’ in Exodus 20:13, turning the other cheek and much more.